A province that has understood since around 2010 that the way people work is not a project, not a renovation, not a trend to follow — but the operating system of the organisation as a whole.

A province that recognised early on that work is not about square metres, but about maturity, trust and direction. And that the work environment is ultimately a choice about identity, culture and societal impact.

From thefirst steps of ‘Gelders Werken’, a collaboration emerged that developed more as a shared evolution than as a sequence of isolated programmes. The transition from five buildings to one was not a real estate exercise, but a movement towards one provincial organisation, one way of working, one shared rhythm.

With Working Where It Works, hybrid working took shape as a conscious choice, aligned with responsibility, vitality and autonomy.

And now, fifteen years later, the province once again finds itself at a logical turning point. Not to reinvent everything, but to continue building on the layers that have grown over time.

Gelderland does not ask: “What will our next workplace concept be?”

But rather: “How do we remain a province in which work, people and environment continue to reinforce one another?”

This question has run as a common thread throughout the collaboration. And it is precisely here that work is now continuing: through the recalibration of the work concept, the deepening of the organisational data layer, and the further development of Corporate Services in light of the years ahead.

This is nota story about change. It is a story about continuity, vision and deliberate development. About how a province sees work as a strategic capability.

And how we have been able to contribute to that development for fifteen years.

Looking back, one does not see a series of completed projects, but layers that have taken shape over time.

Gelders Werken set the tone: a province that consciously chose autonomy, trust and space. The transition from five buildings to one made visible what had already been developing within the organisation: greater cohesion, less fragmentation, and one recognisable work environment for the province as a whole.

By the time Working Where It Works was introduced, a solid foundation was already in place. This made it possible to explore and apply hybrid working without the reflexes often seen elsewhere. No panic, no hype, but considered choices that matched the organisation’s stage of development.

What characterises Gelderland is this constant movement: the organisation continues to develop, even when there is no immediate pressure to do so. This is precisely what makes the development calmer, more deliberate and more sustainable.

Where many organisations feel compelled to start over when a work concept comes under pressure, Gelderland is able to build further. The conversation shifts away from interventions in the physical environment towards a deeper understanding of underlying patterns:

• Rhythm in collaboration
• Role clarity within Corporate Services
• Careful use of data as a basis for dialogue
• A provincial office that can move with societal dynamics
• Frameworks that provide direction without becoming rigid

The current recalibration is therefore not a correction, but the next step in a longer development.

1. An integrated data layer for insight and reflection

In this phase, occupancy, behaviour, experience, personas, digital work patterns and WoW data are considered in relation to one another. Not to manage by numbers, but to make patterns visible and enable conversations based on shared insight.

2. Balancing generic principles and customisation

One province contains multiple rhythms. By explicitly distinguishing what applies organisation-wide and where variation is needed, a balance emerges between coherence and flexibility. This supports team ownership and reduces unnecessary friction.

3. Further development of Corporate Services

In this phase, Corporate Services continues to grow in its role. Using a jointly developed mechanism — data, conceptual thinking, rhythm, real conversations, learning over project thinking, and practice what we preach — work is done on coherence, reflection and continuous adjustment. Corporate Services increasingly develops as a strategic conversation partner within the organisation.

Strategy & direction

• Development of the vision behind Gelders Werken
• Strategic design of the transition from five buildings to one
• Co-creation of Working Where It Works
• Recalibration of the current work concept, including scenarios, effect domains and personas

Data & insight

• Occupancy measurements
• Document and data reviews
• Multi-year trend analyses
• WoW research and behavioural data
• Development of an integrated data foundation for workplace, behaviour and collaboration

Organisation & behaviour

• Application of the V+C mechanism as a driver for development
• Strengthening Corporate Services in rhythm, integration and proactivity
• Executive team support and strategic decision-making frameworks
• Development of a learning-oriented, reflective organisational culture

Workplace & design

• Frameworks for generic provisions and tailored solutions
• Translation of vision into spatial use and conceptual choices
• Balance between hybrid work processes, collaboration, focus and team dynamics

The Province of Gelderland demonstrates that developing work and the work environment requires time, consistency and sustained attention. By not waiting for systems to fail, but by continuously reflecting and adjusting. By making choices that align with values and context. And by continuing to invest inmaturity, vitality and collaboration.